Send & Receive Issues

How Long Does Microsoft Take to Unblock a Restricted Email User?

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

A Microsoft 365 user account was placed on the suspected-spam restricted list, preventing outbound emails. Despite an administrator removing the user from the blocked list, the email functionality remains restricted the following day.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An administrator is trying to restore sending capabilities for an account restricted due to suspected spam.
Observed behavior: The user remains unable to send emails, even after the administrator unblocked the account from the Restricted entities page.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 global administrator or security administrator privileges, as standard users cannot access the Restricted entities page to unblock accounts.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Account Status in the Restricted Entities Page

Double-check that the account was properly unblocked using the official Microsoft Defender portal, and wait the standard propagation time.

While administrators can trigger the unblocking process immediately, it typically takes up to 24 hours for Microsoft's backend servers to fully sync and restore sending privileges. If it has been less than 24 hours, the block may still be clearing.

Access the Defender Portal

Log into the Microsoft Defender portal (security.microsoft.com) using your administrator credentials.

Navigate to Restricted Entities

Go to 'Email & collaboration', click on 'Review', and then select 'Restricted entities'.

Verify the User's Status

Check if the user's account is still listed on this page. If they are, select the account and follow the prompts to remove the restriction. If they are not listed, the unblock request is processing.

Propagation Time: It is completely normal for email sending capabilities to remain restricted for a few hours (and up to 24 hours) after an admin removes a user from the Restricted entities page.

Solution 2

Open a Microsoft Support Request

If the account remains restricted well past 24 hours after being removed from the list, escalate the issue for backend investigation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it usually take for Microsoft to unblock an email user?

Typically, after an administrator unblocks an account from the Restricted entities page, it takes anywhere from a few hours up to 24 hours for the change to propagate and for the user to be able to send emails again.

Why was my Microsoft 365 account restricted from sending emails?

Accounts are usually placed on the restricted list when Microsoft's outbound spam filters detect unusually high volumes of emails or suspicious sending patterns, which often indicates that the account has been compromised by a third party.

Can a regular user unblock their own restricted email account?

No, standard users cannot remove themselves from this block list. Only a Microsoft 365 administrator with the appropriate permissions can access the Defender portal to remove an account from the Restricted entities list.

What should an admin do before unblocking a suspected-spam account?

Before unblocking an account, the administrator should secure it by resetting the user's password, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), and ensuring the user's devices are scanned for malware to prevent a repeat incident.

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